As most of you who read the daily and weekly blog know, I am involved in a year long fundraiser where I am surfing every day for 365 consecutive days. I'll briefly touch upon the mission for any of you who are new to this column. It's called CATCH A WAVE FOR MOLLY. And if you click on the banner in the right hand column there, you can can follow my quest.

I am basically doing this to help families who are dealing with cancer and to keep the memory of Molly Rowlee fresh in all of our lives. I knew Molly. And I know the Rowlees. Her parents Buck and Meighan and her little brother Kieran. They are part of this surf community we all live and surf in.

I have said many times we all know someone who has had cancer. It's part of our world. Cancer. Those of you who read this will agree. We all know of someone who has either had cancer or has passed away from it. It's just a big part of our existence. And yet after all this time, there is still no cure for it. No cure for a disease that kills the young, the old, the rich and the poor.

Talk about Global Terrorism. Cancer has terrorized families for years.

And as common as it is, I don't think any of us, has a ready made reaction to hearing the words "You have Cancer." Or "Your loved one has Cancer." You know, when you hear it for the first time involving a loved one. It's usually shock and numbness followed by disbelief.

So when I heard those words (again) about my youngest sister on Friday, I was numb with disbelief. I guess I was not as surprised as I thought I would be, only because deep down inside, I was already preparing for that news. I have become numb to it...and it's because I've dealt with it so many times before.
My column last week was all about Cancer. My friend Joe died from Stomach Cancer in 1978. My mother lost her battle to cancer in 2007.

I've had countless friends and relatives who have had it and have either beat it or it beat them. So I was not as surprised as I thought I might be. There's simply no other way to deal with it directly. Hearing that news. And for me doing this daily fund raiser for cancer it just seems like another major bump in the road. If you have been following me you already know that I've had a few bumps and bruises along the way.

And just this morning my aunt Gloria called. She is the youngest sister of my late mother. She has breast cancer. I was so sorry to hear that. My cousins are lucky. They have both of their parents still with them. Though their dad my uncle Artie a WWII Marine who fought on Pelieu is not doing well. So I know what's coming for them. And it's not going to be easy.

But I must say. I did not see this coming. My kid sister has cancer.

She follows my daily mission. And she was upset when I got hurt a few weeks back. She made me promise that I would not do a fund raiser for her. I said that I wouldn't. Or rather, I would not do anything as drastic as surfing everyday for a year again. Besides, I don't know if I could do that again. I'm pretty sure that once this year is up, I'm all done with surfing marathon fund raisers. I'm too old and it takes a lot out of you.

My brothers and my other two sisters are all concerned about my sister, as are my wife and kids and all my close friends. Everyone has been so good. If there's one good thing that comes out of this, it's friends and family pulling together. And I certainly have that. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are coming our way. I've heard from many cancer survivors who have had the same kind of brain cancer that she has. And it's amazing how many have beat it.

So my sister has a chance. A fighting chance. And we are going to fight this.

But it is not lost on me, the irony of this all. The very fact that I am doing a Fund Raiser dealing with cancer and now having to deal with it again up close and personal. But fear not my friends. I will not waiver. Or fail. I will not loathe in self pity. I will continue on each day. Doing what I set out to in July of 2010. I am not about to stop or slow down now. I am going to finish this mission and help my sister in any way I can. Because that's what family is all about.

My son has a tattoo on his arm...it is a cross with these latin words...


 
The translation..."Blood is Thicker Than Water."

My own personal saying comes to mind as well... "Surfing Heals All Wounds."

Together with family, friends, and the best doctors in the world, we can beat this thing. It won't be easy. But we can beat it. And that's what I'm banking on. That strength in numbers. I'll be calling on you readers from time to time to help us with a few prayers and positive thoughts.

I know I can count on you, and so I thank you all in advance.

Ralph